From the begining......

 

From the beginning!!!!!! 

 

 

 

 

Steve about 10 days old

                                                               He looks a bit concerned

 

 

 

Steve about a month old, still looking concerned LOL

 

 

 

 

Baby Santa

 

 

 

 

Jan 1996

Home from NY for a few weeks to hang out with family

 

 

 

First Easter 1996, wasn't he adorable??????

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fat baby:)

 

Christmas 1996

 

 

Christmas 1997  (my hair and Jon's glasses....Oh Lord!)

 

Love this picture of Jon and Steve!!!!!!

 

He wanted a army man cut LOL

 

 

I love this picture too

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Scooby Doo time...all this was his stuff, he was a SD fan:)

he was in kindergarten that year and that was his uniform

 

 

Steve and Buddy....our can for many years.  Dec 26 2001 Steve decided he wanted a gray kitten for a late Christmas present.  I called our vet and they had a gray one that someone had dropped off.  We went and got him and had him till last year.  The funny thing is right after this picture was taken, Buddy fell down Steve's overalls....it was not pleasant LOL  but a story we laugh at now. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve and Sam

 

 

My boys....

 

Christmas 2004

(now Sam is the one looking concerned LOL)

 

 

 

 

Love these pictures!

 

Our three boys

 

Christmas 09

 

Steve's 15th Bday

 

 

Steve at Gatorland

 

2011 (right before we started the girls adoption)

 

 

 

Thought you'd enjoy all these pictures of Steve as he grew up......

 

 

I'm still amazed that I officially have an adult child....  Ok that just makes me feel OLD!!!!!

 

I know this post will probably embarrass him but .....

 

I have to say again just how much we have enjoyed being Steve's parents.  We went into this thing called "parenthood" somewhat in shock!  We'd been married for over 6 years and  couldn't have a baby.  I did fertility and tests....and then gave up for a couple of years once we'd moved to NYC and got busy in ministry.  Since neither Jon or I were big "kid people"  LOL we weren't too terribly upset over not having kids.  Then I got sick ....and sicker and had no energy whatsoever.  I was pretty sure I'd picked up something awful from the drug addicts and homeless we'd been working with.  Then I noticed I was smelling everything so strong and gagging....except for the Chinese food....I smelled it and that was all I could think of "MUST have Chinese...."  So people started saying I was pregnant.  We were like "no way".  I tried to get into see my doctor but couldn't for a few days.  So someone said we should go to a Christian Pregnancy place for a test.  I went but really did not think I was pregnant....well we did the test and the lady told me it was positive.....I yelled down the hall to Jon.   I was in total shock!!!!!!!!!!   We were laughing and squealing, everyone one in the place was laughing too. 

 

We left and I threw up...and kept throwing up....forever....and ever..... and ever....   Finally my doctor told me at 18 weeks she'd never seen a case of morning sickness like I had.  It was awful.... If I saw food on tv, I threw up.  If I smelled things, I threw up.  Morning , noon and night.....threw up....If  the tv moved too quickly I threw up..... The doctor said she didn't think it would go away and it didn't but got a little better as time went on.  Then other issues started happening.  I had about 9 sonograms....ever one of them I was told "it's a girl"  till the last one, 2 weeks before he was born and the tech said "look there is a scrotum"   I was like NO NO NO it's a girl....and she was like "believe me that is not a girl!"  LOL   I had so many sonograms because I didn't have much amniotic fluid (same issue I had with Sam)  

 

So I had "monitoring" 4 days a week.  One day I went by myself, as my father in law was in town and Jon was taking him to see the sights.....   I get hooked up and Steve's heart rates plummeted....time and time again, his heart  rate would go down.  At one point they even lost it.   I was already in the hospital so they transferred me to Labor and Delivery.  I get in my room, there are like 10 people there and I'm handed a gown.  I go to change in the bathroom and the nurse yelled at me, just strip, we are probably going to have to do a C-section.....   I stripped right there, my heart pounding. 

 

Of course this was 1995, we didn't have a cell phone, Jon was off sightseeing with his dad......I was all alone and scared.   Finally that afternoon we were able to get ahold of him and he rushed over to the hospital. 

 

So Steve stabilized, since he was a month early they didn't know what they were going to do.  They decided to induce me so I spent Wednesday and Thursday being induced.  Finally on Friday things KICKED in....and the epidural didn't work...at all.....it was HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    I woke up at 6 am in so much pain....it got worse and worse....by 8 am I had gone from 0cm to 8 cm and was pretty sure I was going to die and really did not care if I did or not....   At 10 am (just 4 hours) I was fully dilated and was told to push.  Oh Lord I pushed forever, he was stuck.....it was HELL!!!   Finally they used forceps....again it was HELL!   But we got a live healthy 7 lb baby.....

 

 

Well after ALL of that, and the fact that I thought he was going to be a girl....I was not so sure about all of this....THEN they handed him to me......it was like pixie dust was poured out all over me.  I was in so much love.....In that moment, it was worth everything!

 

 

We went home a few days later and he actually slept through the night, I was hated by all:)   Steve was the easiest baby ever from the get go.  When he was about 4 months old I got one picture of him crying and we loved it because he just never cried:)  Such a sweet happy boy....

 

People would say "enjoy it now...just wait till he is a toddler, an adolescent, a teenager...."  then it will get hard.  Well it never did!  I've enjoyed everything from the beginning till now....every stage has been wonderful and full of wonder and excitement for us as his parents. 

 

We made some decisions from day one with Steve and we've always been on the same page as far as decisions and discipline.   We chose to work crazy hours so when he was in preschool and nursery, he was only there for a few hours.  I went into to work early and Jon went in late and it ended up Steve would only spend 3-5 hours a day away from us. 

 

We committed to keeping him in private Christian school, it was a sacrifice but we felt it was well worth it.  Many people have hobbies or boats or vacations that spend money on....we chose to spend money on something we felt was much more important than those type of things. 

 

We also kept him in church.  When he was little it was during my "valley time" but he still went to church weekly.  

 

We kept his heart turned towards his family.  In adolescence, and teen years it is natural for kids to turn towards their peers but we feel that is not necessarily the right thing!   We've always encouraged friendships but we also were carefully observing his choice of friends.  We looked for friends whose families had the same values and outlooks. 

 

The way we looked at parenting was not from current books or  fads.  We looked at what the Bible said and based our decisions on that.  It was not always easy nor did we do the "popular" things in some folks' mind.  But we didn't mind!  We had a goal of keeping Steve's heart turned to God and teaching him eternal truths. 

 

We're not perfect parents but God helped us from early on to have wisdom and discernment.

 

Some people say "you just shelter your kids too much"  First I find that laughable as my kids have seen more of the "REAL " world than most adults but I also look at some of the ones who say that and think...."you know sheltering is not a bad thing!"   I don't think children are geared to make some of the decisions that get forced upon them early on, regarding life, drugs & alcohol, sex.....  We absolutely made some of his decisions for him when he was younger....but now he is older and is more equipped to make decisions.

 

My attitude of parenting is like this.....  have you ever seen a new tree that has been planted?  Many times a tree will have a brace around it until the tree gets strong roots.  We planted some trees at the church and they had a base holding them in place for about a year.   I think in parenting you should do the same thing.  Give the help and support needed until the child has grown deep roots and no longer needs much help from the parents. 

 

I encourage other parents, to start from where they are at and work on things if it is needed.  If your child is at home, he/she is never too old to see some good changes. 

 

So back to Steve.....we have loved being his parents....it was just the three of us for over 8 years...then came Sam.....  Steve went from the prince to being the kid out in the waiting room in one hospital after another.....   But he loved his little brother from day one! 

 

I should have some of the NICU pictures on here, Steve would stand by his bed and just watch him, it was so sweet.

 

Steve dealt so good with Sam's birth and then less than 2 years later we adopted Shad.  Again Steve stepped up.  He has always been a big part of his brothers' lives.  He just rolled with the punches and challenges of our life. 

 

Then when we went to Ukraine, we saw him really become a man.  He was responsible for Sam while we were at the intuition or doing something court related.  He handled being in a very foreign country so good.  One thing I remember about our trip was he went to the store and bought what he thought was toilet paper and paper towels. He got the wrong thing and returned it on his own to a store where no one spoke English.  It was just amazing to see him learn and really roll with whatever surprise the trip had for us.

 

When the accident happened....Steve was a ROCK!  He took care of the kids so we could be at the hospital.  He sacrificed the six months we were gone from home.  And the thing is he did it so willingly, not in a complaining manner or a grumpy manner.  He just saw what needed to be done and did it.  So many people around us commented on his presence and how he dealt with things. 

 

 

When we came home, he lost his room to Selah and her nurses and again, did it willingly.  In fact he offered it when we were just thinking about how we'd handle things when we got home.   

 

I don't want to sound like we have the "perfect child"  (we had a friend who used to call him that) cause he is not perfect but we so appreciate all he has done and how he stepped up to the plate when needed.  He is appreciated, not just because he stepped in and helped but his sweet attitude.  Sometimes I'm sad for some of the things he has missed in life but I know God will reward him for all he has done to help out.   I would love and adore him even if he wasn't like he is but I do appreciate him:) 

 

We look forward to seeing what God has in store for his future.  In spite of everything.....he should be finished with all his high school work by December or January.  He then plans on getting a job until he is old enough (19 years old) to go to the Academy.  His plan is to become a Correctional Officer.  That is what he has wanted since he was 10 years old.  We are looking forward to this new stage in his life.  I do miss that little man that is in all of those pictures, the time flew by. 

 

So if you think about it, say a prayer for Steve that God will guide and direct his path. 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 18th Birthday Steve!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great party yesterday for Steve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cousins 

 

 

Good food

 

 

fun times 

 

 

Shad was on "a roll"  LOL

 

 

 

 

thanks for cooking Rodney!!!!!!

 

 

 

Jon shared how much we loved Steve.  I was able to and several of his friends did also.

 

Shad Said he was "the best brother ever"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy 18th Birthday Steve

 

"Our bearded baby"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

gift time...Steve was Happy Happy Happy!

 

 

 

 

 

It's so hard to believe in just a couple of hours (actually during church time) our son will turn 18 years old.....what a milestone.  We've loved every second of his childhood and now we have his adulthood to look forward to.  Steve has been a blessing since day 1:)  God couldn't have given us a sweeter child.  Everything about Steve has been precious and still is to us.   We've just had such a good time being his parents and we are so blessed that God surprised us with our miracle baby!    I have some other pictures to share as well as a blog for Steve coming later but I wanted to share his birthday pictures first.  I think a 18th birthday deserves at least 2 blogs:) 

 

De- Clutter

 Beautiful day for outside play!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I really need to learn how to do little girl hair:) 

 

Lots of running around today....getting ready for Steve's birthday party tomorrow:)  I ordered him a real surprise cake:)

 

I also tried to winterize my closet, I know we live in Florida but I was taught no white after Labor Day even if it is 100 degrees LOL!  When I change out clothes and shoes, I give away everything I didn't wear over the past season.  I love to go through things and clean out and give away things.   I used to watch "Clean House" and have to go through a drawer or two afterwards LOL  I really thought about starting a business and becoming a closest organizer but I did some work for some friends and had them all crying LOL  Really....they were crying.....   I am not attached to much...especially not clothes!   Although I find it very hard to give away any of Selah's pre accident clothes.   So I found out that most folks aren't like me!  And I'd get too annoyed with someone holding onto things and the crying too that would annoy me!    BUT I love my friends who let me clean out their closets LOL!!!

 

To  me DEcluttering  is a way of life (and a new word according to my spell check)  I love to get rid of clutter.  My great aunts were hoarders....not the crazy nasty ones you see on the show but they kept everything....  So I am rebellious....I try to keep as little as possible.  With 7 people in our house, that is hard!  But I try.  I do have a big pantry and lots of things that I need for the little ones, like diapers that I store away till needed.  But I don't hoard a lot of stuff that wouldn't' be useful.  In fact we got a shipment of syringes that we didn't order and the company can't take back so I gave the boxes away to a thrift store that sends things to missions hospitals.  I hope someone will find a use for them! 

 

 

When I declutter, I feel lighter and happier....try it, it's good to not hold on to a lot of stuff and it's good to bless others with things they might be able to use.  If something is really junky, I usually throw it away but most things can be recycled. 

 

 

I also went through Sarah's clothes, last winter I bought her size 3T.....they are all in a bag to either go to the consignment shop or the thrift store based on how worn they look.  No size 3 girls around here!!!!  I love that she is getting chunky:)

 

When we got Sarah she was a bag of bones.  She weighted 19 pounds at 5.5 years old.  When I first changed her in the orphanage, I started crying as I put her new dress on.  There were a lot of symbolic emotions going on but I was crying looking at her tiny little body.  Her hipbones were so pronounced and her pelvic area was so sunk in, I've never seen anything like it.  Her rib cage was so clear you could literally count every rib.  I almost took pictures, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.  I didn't want to have a picture of my baby looking so bad.  When we were on the plane, we tried to keep her covered up, she looked so weak, with no hair and scabies from head to toe....we were afraid someone would call the law on us! 

 

But she doesn't look like that anymore!  And I love every pound that I have to haul around when I carry her!  Although we do tell her that she has to start walking soon:)   You have NO idea how I love those pounds and the slightly chubby legs and the round belly....:)   She even has a little fat on her back!   Now I want her to be healthy, and not overweight but she is WAY below the curve for a girl her age still but she is on the way UP the curve:)   And I LOVE it!

 

 

 

 

This week has been full of so much work for me.  Now with Selah starting back HBOT there is a lot of rearranging of schedules and trying to figure out how everything is going to get done.   It's going to be a crazy time as we get all the evaluations scheduled for the little ones schooling and Sarah has a some appointments coming up.  Hopefully school will start soon for the little ones...but it's going to be a fast month of November with so much going on. 

 

We are going on a short vacation with a dear family right before Thanksgiving.  Those 4 days are my goals as I hit all this stuff running.  If I can just get it done, then we will be relaxing in a nice cabin out in the woods,  with life long friends.....  I can't wait!!!!!!

 

Hope you all have a great start to your weekend. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eternity

Today was a busy day....LOL  every day is a busy day around here.....

We first went to Lakeland and picked up our winnings at Sonny's.  Steve had texted and won a "Tailgate Party".  It included a grill/smoker, 2 nice camp chairs, a cooler, Sonny's sauce set  and a big tent/awning:)  We also stopped by the Family Christian bookstore so I could get a new CD of "Big Daddy Weave".  Then we rushed home so Sarah could have her Physical Therapy.  Then on to pick Shad up and go to the other side of the county to Steve's ortho appointment and my favorite "whole organic" supermarket. 

Also today we had an extremely complicated situation with Selah's insurances and meds get worked out today.....And on top of it all being worked out, we may even be refunded all the $100 copays we've made over the past 9 months!!!!! but it is so wearying to have to fight fight fight all the time......!!!!!!!!

While at the bookstore I picked up a book "Appointments with Heaven" by Dr Reggie Anderson.  I'm interested, as most folks are, about heaven but some of the "Christian " books are just plain WERID!   The only other one that didn't make me feel uncomfortable was "90 minutes in Heaven"  ( what I mean is many of the books say things that don't line up with the bible)   I saw the book was foreworded by Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman so that gave me hope it was not some flaky book.......well I could not put the book down, I read it all today despite all the crazy running around we did! 

Awwww......this book made me look towards eternity.....a reminder that one day all things will be made new and all heartaches will be gone......   I needed that reminder......I NEEED that reminder every day!  

It's a good book and it will encourage you to look at death differently.

I'll be honest I am "scared to death of death"  I trust God and I do believe in heaven, it's just the getting there and the separation that frightens me.  I'm so afraid of leaving my little ones.....   this book was like a breath of fresh air.  I encourage you to get a copy and read it.  I sped through it, I need to go back and read it slower.


I wanted to clarify something with Selah's HBOT treatments.  The clinic advised us to wait at least 6 weeks in between treatment sets to get the BEST outcome based on what they have seen before.  We did 20 days/2x a day for a total of 40 treatments.  Then we waited....and looked at things to see if we should do it again.  We think we should do it again and see if we have anymore significant changes in Selah.  Oh I pray we do!!!!!!  

The schedule is grueling, getting her up and there 2x a day.  Nothing else can be done during those 20 days.  The treatment takes up the whole day but it is worth it if it helps Selah even a little.  I still can't say that I whole heartedly endorse HBOT BUT there is enough proof that there were some changes in her so I think we should try it again.  If there is just a chance to help her some, how can we NOT do it?????


Thank you all for your prayers.  We will again be praying and attempting to do the Daniel Fast during her HBOT sessions.  I say attempting the fast LOL!  It was hard to do and be so busy.  We know God knows how seriously we want our daughter to be healed.  But we also recognize He is a God of grace!

A big Scare!

 

 

the first time since the accident that all five of my kids have been outside playing together......

 

Florida is wonderful from October-April:)  We'll be outside every day!

 

 

 

Selah sat with me on the big swing and we swung for a long time

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selah had an appointment with Orthopedics today and it went GREAT!  The doctor was pleased with her legs/ankles and feet!  In fact she only has to wear her leg braces for 12 hours a day now instead of 23 hours a day!  she had surgery in March to correct the damage done to her legs/feet and ankles after the accident.  they drew up terribly but they look great now!  She has no more drawing up and they don't expect anymore issues with it!!!    We talked about her hands/wrists and he was actually glad at the way they have drawn up.  It is easily correctable and much different than most kids like her.  Her thumb is stiff but we are going to put something like a bike handle in it at night just to help round it out.  He said she will be fine.   

 

I had to do a lot of calling today, getting some of Selah's meds straighten out.  Being the mom of special needs kids can be complicated in a way that no one would understand UNLESS they are a parent of a SN child or a caregiver for a chronically ill person....all the hoops and phone calls....just to try and have everything run smooth for your loved one.   Sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode!   NOTHING absolutely NOTHING is easy....... 

We had a great time outside as you can tell.  We were out for 2 hours and the kids were all HAPPY:)  Love our weather! 

We all came back inside and I started cooking Shrimp Jambalaya and black beans and cornbread.  it is one dish that really doesn't blend up good so Steve was feeding Sarah something else for me. (she usually eats what we eat, I just puree it)   I had made her a drink of Pedisure/ice cream/ strawberries for her dessert.  I had blended it and it was thick like a custard.  Well all of a sudden he yelled "Sarah is choking"  I turned and screamed for our nurse and he ran in right when I got over to her.  As he is coming down the hall he yelled to turn her upside down to Steve and then he grabbed her and did the Heimlich.....   One of the strawberries hadn't completely been pureed.....   As soon as he turned her right side up, she sat on the floor and opened her mouth for more....   It didn't seem to frighten her, me?  I'm still shook up about it.  We love our day nurse Aaron a lot anyhow but now........   we are eternally grateful to him.   I've had CPR but he did everything so quick and steady.  thank God we had a nurse here today!

Sarah was shoveled food in her mouth in the orphanage.  She doesn't know how to chew, there is NOTHING wrong with her mouth but since she was feed for 5.5 years by having food shoveled down her throat, she can't seem to learn to chew nor does she have any desire to do so.   She learns other things so easily, and LOVES food....you'd think she'd catch on but she doesn't.  She has a therapist who is working with her weekly but the only thing she has learned so far is to drink from a straw.  This is the first time she has ever choked on something and I feel horrible!!!!   I've used the Magic Bullet now ever since she has been home and it usually purees food perfectly but maybe it is getting dull since it is in use several times a day!  I also usually stir things just to make sure everything is the right consistency.   This little piece just was hiding.   I am so very grateful for our nurse and so thankful to God that everything is ok!!!!  And I'm glad she isn't upset by it. 

It amazes me how life can change in an instant...we'd all been outside playing, came in and we could have had a tragedy happen.....Life is precious  and kind of scary too!  


Whew.....I'm just ready to go to bed and pull the covers up over my head!!!!!!!  Steve wants to go take a CPR class and I think I'm ready to renew one too! 

Sam used to stop breathing when he was little, it was beyond awful.....the first year of his life was filled with times of me having to do CPR and once our neighbor had to do it for him....    I do NOT know how we got through that first year!   Today reminded me of that year......my kids age me!!!!!! 

So we are thankful tonight that all is well with our baby girl!

Well we have decided we should take Selah back to Hyperbaric  Oxygen Therapy  (HBOT)  We ( us, her nurses and even one doctor!)  feel that there has been an improvement in her.

What we have seen:
1. tongue control.  she holds her tongue in her mouth always ( she keeps her mouth open but most folks who have a trach do that even if they have mouth control)  she moves her tongue around and  does some things that the ST told us were very important (moves her tongue when touched etc...)

2. she turns her head towards someone talking to her  she rarely did this before.  Every since the HBOT we have had many folks remark on this. 

3.   she has a little more head control and moves it much more   we all agree on this.

4.  she seems more alert    this is hard to "prove" but we all feel like this.

5.  she no longer tests positive for MRSA!!!!!!!!!   out of curiosity the clinic asked that we have her tested for MRSA again (she has been positive since the accident)   Well we did and it was negative for it....  she still tests a low positive for the sudamounia...(a trach infection and NO I didn't spell it right, I have no idea how to spell it)   Everyone was wondering if the HBOT would make a difference in the MRSA and it seems like it did!  MRSA doesn't usually go away once it is colonized like it was in Selah.  Everyone is finding this "interesting" 


Some of these things are subjective BUT the tongue movement is not, she started it on day 10 of HBOT and has not stopped it.  We were worried that it was an abnormal movement but no one seems to think that thank God!

We are grateful they have agreed to give us the same deal they did last time:)  HBOT is expensive and not covered by insurance but we feel that it has helped her and may help her even more so it is worth it to us. 

Please be in prayer for Selah as we get ready to start next Friday Nov 1!   She did great with the HBOT last time, no issues and we are praying it will be the same this time.  Pray that God will use this to help heal Selah.  I figure God made oxygen and gave this idea to someone.....  it is about as natural of a treatment as you could do for someone.....  I was encouraged by one of our doctors ( I won't "out" him on here) but he told me he has seen some of his kids really helped by HBOT even tho it is not "medically recognized"   We think there has been some small significant and lasting changes to Selah because of the HBOT.....maybe there will be more!

Ok everyone have a safe and good night....I'm fighting taking one of my "happy pills".  going to try and relax.....go to sleep if I can!  I maybe a bit stressed out, but I am so thankful my little Sarah is ok and playing happily on the floor in the living room.   Her food will be checked totally from now on and I'll make sure nothing like that ever happens again!!!!! 

Great Day LOTS of pictures......New bike and baby turtle.....a day in the life of the Clanton family

I have to admit we had a very good IEP homebound meeting this morning.  didn't have as many as expected as somethings are still being set up but I feel like it was a productive NON adversarial  meeting.   There have been many changes in the administration of our area and I'm basically dealing with new people.  They all seem like they see the need for my three little ones to have services and have them as quick as possible.  That is very appreciated!  So hopefully things will begin to take place so that we can get all the services all three of them need.  Sam will just start again with what he had and I was pleased with the amount of services he was getting.  The girls still need a few evaluations.  I have to say I am happy with the outcome of this meeting as long as things proceed as stated.

Then I had my weekly appointment with my friend:)  We only have 2 hours a week we can get together and those two hours are very important to me.  We had a good lunch and a good talk.  Some deep conversation along the lines of "Pentecostal"  It's funny my friend is coming from a Baptist background and has gone through quite a progression in the last decade.....at the same time, I'm coming from a Pentecostal background and have gone through quite a "regression (some would say) in the last decade.  We are about at the same spot I guess LOL  But I don't believe in eternal security,.   Today we touched on that issue too.  We were talking about hell being a FOREVER place of punishment....no get out of jail card.....  and I said, "I believe in eternal damnation just not eternal security.  We both got a laugh out of that!   Eternal security basically is a doctrine that most Baptist believe, that once you become a Christian, you are always a Christian no matter how far from God you may walk.  I do not believe that......  anyhow we had a really good time talking doctrine and eating Sonny's:)

Then a rush to pick up Shad and back to the church to meet with our bookkeeper....got all that done.....

While we were having our IEP, our Physical Therapist was working with the kids.  Sarah and Sam got to use the handicapped accessible bike.   Thank you so much to the wonderful family who gave it to us!  Both kids took to it immediately and really enjoyed it.  I walked outside to see Sarah just pedaling away and almost started crying!!   This is a little girl who until a year and a half ago was considered bed-ridden and hopeless......  This is a girl who was strapped to a bed.....

 

Look at her go!

 

 

 

 

 

she is doing it all herself!

 

 

 

my fav picture of her!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now here goes Sam!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

just needed a little guidance in steering

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOVE this picture

 

 

And I have to say a BIG thank you to our wonderful therapist Ms Chris!  She has added so much to all three of my little ones' lives in the past 9 months she has been working with them. 

 

 

 

 

Look what Shad found right outside the church!

A baby snapping or alligator turtle.

I've never seen one this small

 

 

 

 

 

LOVE this picture of Shad and his turtle!

 

 

 

see that pointed head?  If he were big, he'd be biting and snapping at us.  these guys are MEAN!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve took it to the corner of the swamp and let it go...

 

Live Free.....

 

 

 

And if you are wondering what a Camo bathroom looks like.....

Thanks to Shad....

 

 

Thought you'd like all these pictures:) 

 

It's been a good day!

 

Selah is doing good, our bookkeeper said she looked focused and more alert than the last time he saw her which was months ago.  I LOVE hearing things like that!!!!!!!  Please keep her in your prayers.

Just another Manic Monday

Long day....Cleaned the house, still have things to do. Getting ready for Sam's, Sarah's, and Selah's IEP tomorrow morning....expecting 15 people (at my house)  and fireworks if they don't get services started by Nov 1 (we've been yanked around since Feb1~can we say OUT OF COMPLAINCE?????? I HATE the public school system! Drove to pick up the little's new handicapped accessible bike - a long hour's drive, Steve drove and almost had his first accident, but thankfully we didn't! Had to go to Walmart... and now regret listening to Shad's idea to do the bathroom in camouflage...sounded good at the time LOL Shad's happy......that boy is truly southern redneck down to his toe nails, don't let the Asian look fool you! Going to mop the floor now.....

 

WHEW!!!!!!!

 

 

It's been a long day but boy have I got a lot of stuff done! 

 

Will blog more tomorrow, all is well around the Clanton household:)